True - only WE can decide what our message will be.

My life is my message. Mahatma Gandhi

I am Thankful for my Family!!!

Twins!

Twins!

Cute Siblings

Drooling over my delectable pies!

The snowmen and their creators.

Love this boy

Yep - "The Cat Came Back"

Holiday Craft-a-palooza!

Mini wreaths, L-O-V-E!!!

Loved making the Gratitude Gobbler on Thanksgiving Day. This beautiful bird had over 100 feathers, including everything from Jimmer to Pull-ups to Missionaries to Miracles.

Beata, Sunny and Hank went crazy making these adorable little sock snowmen.

Just can't get enough of the yarn-wrapped trees this year.

Everyone made one of these cute mini-wreaths to put on the tree. They were all unique and all adorable - just like the people who made them.

He's da Man

Great article about a great attitude of a great boy, ooops - Man. Way to go Matthew!

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/cougars/52970252-88/edwards-byu-matt-career.html.csp

Oh My Pie!

Thank you to Glenda McFarland for sharing her wonderful pie recipes. Tonight I made five pies (pecan, apple, pumpkin, coconut cream and chocolate cream), and one bundt cake (carmel - inspired by Minnie in "The Help"). There is something absolutely pleasurable about baking something that I know will be simply enjoyed by some of the the people that I love the most in this world. I believe that there is a little bit of the baker's spirit in each creation. My spirit tonight was full of gratitude and love as I mixed, chopped, whipped and rolled - hopefully, everyone will ingest a bit of that felicity with each slice. Happy Thanksgiving.

I Want to Wake Up in the City that Doesn't Sleep

Wow! Steve and I had a wonderful three days in NYC. The weather was absolutely perfect so we were able to walk and walk and walk and really suck the marrow out of our brief time there. One of the really enjoyable things to do when visiting the Big Apple is to see our friends, Robin and Russ. However, I always feel a tinge of jealousy when I get a glimpse into their very urban, cosmopolitan life. Everything they do just seems more cool - even grocery shopping in NYC is more cool than in the suburbs. Anyway, Steve and I like to do something new every time we go, so this time it was a walking tour of Brooklyn Heights, a tour of the UN and an art tour of the Top of the Rock. We had super funny and interesting tour guides and frankly, I learned quite a bit.

We also went to see the de Kooning exhibit at the MOMA and a much smaller Diego Rivera exhibit. After the de Kooning, I was raving about how amazing the paintings were - the raw emotions, the textures and the colors. Steve responded by simply saying the paintings made him feel nauseated - funny how we all have such different perspectives. Of course there is great food, late nights and sleeping in - the trifecta of a perfect vacation. We saw a funny play called "Chinglish", a darling revival of "Anything Goes" and an absolutely transfiguring opera at the MET called "Satyagraha". The opera was about Ghandi's life in South Africa and the genesis of his peaceful resistance philosophy. Satyagraha means "truth force". It was so beautiful. So grateful for those 72 hours to be with the person I love most in one of the places I love most.

Midnight and things are just heating up in Time Square.

Central Park is gloriously decked out with fall foliage.

No explanation - just LOVE

Agree!

A favorite sculpture outside the UN.

Unfortunately, too much dessert is what often causes me so much stress!

Divine rice pudding.

That's all she wrote.

We Love Wreaths

Darling wreath made with variegated yarn and fun felt!

Sunny's wreath - she is so creative :)

Showering Mary Beth with Love & Family Traditions

Everyone loved tying ribbons from their gifts in Mary Beth's hair. She was a great sport!

What a wonderful group of women. There was just a great feeling of love and family tradition today at Mary Beth's shower. I love the Waggies and the Prices! Proud to be part of both families. It is exciting to continue adding new members to this crazy, wonderful brood.

No cuter girls in the world than these :)

We are missing Nicole!!!!! We are smiling, but crying on the inside.

A great family tradition - tying a wedding shower quilt. Becky and her girls did a great job of sewing this puppy up.

Cute Twig Stars

My kids made these cute twig stars on a recent fall day with their cousins. They just found some great looking twigs and then got out some yarn, felt (for flowers) and the glue gun - voila darling decoration.

Cat Scarf

Hank wearing his cat scarf

We have a cat named Panda. The thing about this cat is he is HUGE. It's not that he is fat, because he's not. He is extremely long, tall and athletic. I know it sounds like I am describing an NBA player, except my cat is not an overpaid baby like an NBA player. All spring, summer and fall Panda trolls the neighborhood killing birds, mice, rats, squirrels and he even once killed a weasel. He is almost three years old, and at the top of his game, so to speak. Did I mention that he does all of these amazing hunting feats with no front claws? Yep. Another endearing thing about Panda is that he loves to go on walks. No, not on a leash. He would never put up with being restricted like a lowly dog. However, he follows me around the neighborhood, walking right beside me, and will often wait if I pop into a neighbor's house and then will accompany me back home. I love this about him. But really, the single best thing about Panda is that he is such a lover. My kids lay all over him, kiss him, toss him around like a beanbag, dress him up in doll clothes, throw him in the pool, snuggle him and, my favorite of all, wear him like a scarf. Here is Hank today, wearing the cat scarf. Doesn't Panda's expression just say it all? Happy day.